ABC Cancels 'Cop Rock'

Published: November 13, 1990

"Cop Rock," the new television series that dropped pop songs into a gritty police drama, has been canceled, Robert A. Iger, the president of ABC 's entertainment division, announced yesterday. The show, which had its premiere on Sept. 26, failed to generate an audience despite the tempered enthusiasm of critics.

The show had an average rating of 7.4 and was watched by 13 percent of the Wednesday-night audience, according to the A. C. Nielsen Company. Each rating point represents 931,000 homes with television sets. "Cop Rock" ranked 80th among 101 television series this season. ABC, which had purchased 13 episodes, halted production after the 11th. The final episode is to be broadcast on Dec. 26.

"Cop Rock" was created by Steven Bochco, the producer best known for "Hill Street Blues" and "L.A. Law." The new show combined the realistic elements of the producer's earlier series with the show-stopping techniques of a Broadway musical.

In October, Mr. Iger told television reporters that despite the low ratings, ABC had the time to be patient with "Cop Rock." He also discussed with Mr. Bochco the possibility of dropping the musical numbers, which ranged from rock-and-roll to blues to gospel and standard pop. Mr. Bochco declined. In a statement yesterday, Mr. Iger praised the series and made no reference to the reasons for the cancellation.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Mr. Bochco said he knew the show was doomed when last week's episode failed to show any improvement in the ratings. He said ABC had "been terrific" in keeping the show on the air despite having to give advertisers free time on the show because of the poor ratings.

"I have no reason to go off and sulk," Mr. Bochco said, adding that viewers seemed unwilling to accept the incongruous format.